Shake Shack sets Denver opening date later in March

The wait is over for Shake Shack fans. The beloved burger chain’s first Denver restaurant will open on March 21.

Shake Shack will throw open the doors on its River North location at 2995 Larimer Street on 11 a.m., serving both classic burgers and milkshakes and a few new creations unique to Colorado.

Before the chain’s first Colorado store makes its debut, it already has plans for a second. Denver International Airport officials announced Friday that a Shake Shack will be among the new restaurants opening on Concourse B sometime in the next year.

But in opening the standalone restaurant in RiNo, founder Danny Meyer first will fulfill a promise to his son, Sam, who is completing his third year at Colorado College this spring. Meyer said in an interview with the Denver Business Journal in September that he told Sam that he would be “very disappointed if we do not figure out how to get this open while you are still a junior.”

Coming out of New York City, Shake Shack has garnered a legion of fans with its hormone- and antibiotic-free beef burgers and chicken sandwiches. Hot dogs, fries, custard and alcoholic beverages also grace the menu of the fast-casual concept.

It also will incorporate local food purveyors in several of its frozen custard concretes. A slice of seasonal pie from The Long I Pie Shop will be served with vanilla custard as part of the Pie Oh My, and the Glazed Dazed Donut will feature vanilla custard, salted caramel sauce, chocolate toffee and a Glazed and Confuzed banana bread donut.

The RiNo restaurant also will have beer on tap from local craft breweries Ratio Beerworks, Great Divide Brewing Company, Denver Beer Co., Funkwerks and Odell Brewing Co., the company announced.